Game of Thrones Season 4 Spoilers: What Happens to Bran Stark?

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HBO

With Game of Thrones Season 3 a distant memory, it’s now time to turn our attention to what may lie ahead in Season 4. Since GoT is based on the book series A Song of Ice and Fire(ASOIAF), we can make some good guesses about how the story will play out next season, at least in broad strokes. Here are our predictions about what's coming up for everyone’s favorite pseudo-werewolf, Bran Stark, based on the book series.

Warning: This article contains MAJOR spoilers from the A Song of Ice and Fire book series. Click away now if you don't want to know!

Disclaimer: Of course, the show may cut plot elements or even completely alter Bran's story. These are spoilers based on the books only.

Figuring out Bran’s story for next season is a little tricky. Season 4 is said to be based roughly on the second half of the third book in the ASOIAF, A Storm of Swords. However, Bran’s last scene in A Storm of Swords occurs when he is led north of the Wall by Sam, which we already saw in Season 3. Bran doesn’t pop up again until the fifth book in ASOIAF, so we're guessing show may pull some scenes from early in that book.

Bran, meet Coldhands. One scene that was missing from last season was the introduction of Coldhands. Coldhands is a wight who can talk and rides a giant elk; you know, that old chestnut. In the book, he first rescues Sam and Gilly from a bunch of wights and then enlists their help to get Bran at the Nightfort. We already saw Sam and Gilly get Bran at the Nightfort last season, sans Coldhands, so we expect his introduction early next season. His purpose is to bring Bran way north of the Wall, so Bran can face his ultimate destiny, and he does so in serious badass fashion.

Bran has a rough trip. Going way north of the Wall with no supplies is no picnic, as Bran and company soon find out. They’re running out of food and the cold is getting to them. Suffering most heavily is Jojen Reed, who becomes very ill and seems to be on the brink of death. He is fueled only by his desire to see Bran reach the place he needs to go. We expect the show to really emphasize how difficult their journey is, and stretch it out to give Bran more things to do next season.

Bran battles some wights — as Hodor! When Bran’s destination, a mysterious cave, comes into view, his crew is bombarded by an army of wights. In order to fight them, Bran inhabits Hodor’s body and begins to put the stable boy’s massive frame to good use. We sincerely hope this scene makes it to next season, just so we can see Hodor hacking at wights while shouting, “Hodor!” all the while. And if not next season it better make the show! If the show doesn't quite get here next year, we wouldn't be surprised to see Bran continue to develop his powers in other ways.

Bran faces his destiny. With wights nipping at their heels, Bran and his pals reach the mouth of the cave and go inside. What’s in there? We have a sneaking suspicion that we’ll have to wait until Season 5 to find out, otherwise Bran’s story runs the risk of getting too far ahead of the show’s other characters.

Are you looking forward to Bran's story? How much of it do you think we'll see in Season 4? Sound off in the comments below.